Adobe Photoshop PDF

AEROdYNAmIcAllY SPEAkING, A BUmBlEBEE ShOUld NOT BE ABlE TO FlY

tell Me to WhAt YoU PAY AttentIon AnD

I WIll tell YoU Who YoU ARe

Health experts suggest that we should make a point to ‘shop the perim-
eter’ first in the grocery store. The perimeter of the grocery store is typi-
cally where you will find the freshest fruits, vegetables, meats, bread,
dairy, and liquids. The closer to the center of the store you patronize, the
more likely you are to find processed, prepackaged, and canned foods.
From a leadership perspective, I am starting to realize that the same
perimeter philosophy about food also holds true when talking about hu-
man beings.

We have never been apologists for convenience when it comes to people
and relationships. Just like our food, we would prefer that we have to do
as little as possible in terms of preparation but still expect the maximum
return. We lose patience with those that are not as polished as we need
them to be. We forget that we too were once ‘perimeter professionals’
and that although we were rough, unpolished, slightly less attractive to
the eye, and not yet perfectly packaged, we were also the freshest, most
unique, most innovative, most daring, and produced the best results.

Successful people continue to shop the perimeter. They take a second
look at people and ideas that may require a more hands-on approach
than desired. They are mindful of how an accumulation of degrees,
awards, promotions, and bonuses may have pushed them away from the
freshness of the perimeter to the dullness of the center. Let me be the
first to remind you that for every ‘perimeter professional’ you ignore for
sake of convenience, an observant shopper (client) can easily spot an
unhealthy ‘processed professional’ and ‘canned consultant.’ Take a look
in the mirror and ask yourself which you one you see.

gooD CoMMUnICAtIon Is As stIMUlAtIng As BlACk

CoFFee, AnD JUst As hARD to sleeP AFteR

Successful people create environments where communication is au-
thentic, and are thankful when critical news about their performance is
brought to their attention. We are not perfect and the opportunities to
learn and grow will be endless on the leadership journey. I can remem-
ber receiving some feedback that I felt should have been delivered years
ago. Feeling blindsided and unappreciated, I slipped into behavior re-
served for high school kids in an after school ‘spirited debate.’ I lashed